The storm had passed on and left behind was a glittering world. Droplets of water covered the ground looking like a sea of diamonds. The balcony doors were open and the day smelled fresh, the scent of rain-soaked grass and flowers permeating the air. The sky was a rich blue with white puffy clouds sailing across it.

Gigi sat at her table, holding a cup of tea, her finished breakfast before her. She stared out the windows, watching as birds twirled and dipped. Someone knocked. Gigi gave no indication that she heard as Margo went to open the door.

"I have come to inquire about Lady Genevieve and if she will do me the honor of a ride this morning," a deep, smooth voice said.

"I will see if she is willing," Margo said.

She closed the door and walked over to Gigi.

"Earl Tresin wants to know if you want to go riding this morning, Lady," she said.

The name brought up an image of a man with a nose that dominated his thin face and the smell of pipe smoke that always lingered about him. Gigi sank deeper into her chair, smiling to herself. A sense of freedom washed over her and she felt giddy with the sensation.

"Tell him no," she said. "And that he can let his horse walk over him."

Margo looked shocked, while Gigi continued to grin at the open window. Returning from her astonishment, Margo returned to the waiting nobleman.

"I am sorry to say," she said, "she is flattered by your offer but sadly must decline."

There was a brief silence. "Of course. I will find her later and possibly she would be open to a walk."

Margo gave him a noncommittal bow of her head and closed the door.

"You forgot the part about the horse," Gigi said.

Margo took up a post beside Gigi's chair.

"Lady, I beg your pardon if I overstep my place, but what has gotten into you?"

Gigi glanced at her, seeing the unsettled look in her eyes. She let out a sigh and dropped the smile.

"I have discovered the truth behind all my suitors' intentions and have decided I no longer need to bear their attention." She took a sip from her cup. "I was not what they wanted."

Margo was at a loss what to say. They remained that way, the noise of the busy city tumbling into the room. Gigi set down her cup and stood.

"What will you do today, Lady?" Margo asked.

A lightness came over Gigi's expression. "I do not know. But I shall do it alone, seeing as Duke Sayers is gone and Lord Davin is in a dark library."

She walked to the door and opened it, but paused. She turned back to Margo, who glanced up from her chore of cleaning.

"Yes, Lady?" she asked.

"Thank you for wanting nothing from me."

Margo frowned in puzzlement, but before her confusion could be voiced, Gigi was gone. She wandered down the hallway, taking her time to admire the intricate tapestries, unsure of where she was heading. Sunlight flooded the corridor like water in a glass. Slowly, Gigi found her way down to the main foyer. Servants crossed her path their arms filled with books, curtains, mended dresses and trays of tea.

Gigi was debating where to head next when a voice called to her. Turning, she found a handsome faced man approaching. She held a calm expression, showing no signs of interest. He bowed before her.

"Lady Genevieve," he said, his voice thick with an Eastern accent. "Would you do me the privilege of accompanying me on a walk?"

He gave her a wide smile, that hinted at something more than friendliness. Gigi held back a huff of annoyance, retaining her composure.

"That is thoughtful of you to ask, but I must decline. Good day."

She spun away, not waiting for him to try to convince her otherwise. She had barely taken a few steps when another person hailed her. This time the voice was familiar and feminine. Looking back, she found the Queen crossing the foyer, her dress swishing about her shoes. Her lady-in-waiting followed behind like a shadow. Gigi curtsied as the Queen stopped before her.

"Lady Genevieve," Ashlyn said. "You were the exact person I was looking for."

Gigi rose, surprised. "My Queen?"

The Queen's round face was serious, though her brown eyes were as kind as ever.

"How well do you speak Talvish?"

"Very well, my Queen," she said, confused.

The Queen beamed, the sight like a ray of sun cutting through the clouds.

"Excellent," she said. "I must kidnap you then. Come."

The Queen walked away. Startled, Gigi remained frozen for a second before quickly following. Ashlyn led them out the front entrance into the dazzling morning light. Gigi tilted her chin up, soaking in the warmth, her body longing for the familiarity of the light.

At the bottom of the stairs, a simple carriage waited. Behind it were stationed three soldiers on horses, waiting. A man stood by the door, holding it open. The Queen entered as well as her lady-in-waiting.

"Lady Genevieve, are you coming?"

Without knowing what was going on, Gigi descended the stairs and climbed in. The door was shut and a second later the carriage bounced forward. Though the outside of the carriage was understated, the interior was lavish with velvet cushions and silk covered walls. It smelled of violets.

"Genevieve," the Queen said, "I understand that I pulled you away so quickly, but I am in need of your assistance."

"Whatever I can do to help you, my Queen, tell me and I will."

Ashlyn gave her a fond look. "Thank you, dear. I need your languages. I have a community of Talvish women that I am visiting and my Talvish is not what it should be. Can you act as a translator?"

Gigi saw no reason to point out the fact that it seemed she had no choice in the matter. Ashlyn smiled as if reading her thoughts. "I know I have already stolen you away."

"I am yours to command, my Queen."

"I did not steal you from something important, I hope?"

Gigi shook her head. "Not in the least, my Queen."

"Good. I apologize for the haste but my time is limited."

"Of course, my Queen."

The city rumbled by, the stares and shouts of greetings chasing the carriage. Shops and houses darted passed, figures in varying colors blurring beyond the window.

"If it is not out of place," Gigi said. "For what reason are you visiting the Talvish community, my Queen?"

Ashlyn gestured to a large covered basket that sat beside her. "They sometimes suffer from a sickness that is common to those who immigrant to our shores. The air is different and they struggle to adjust. So every few weeks I visit and give out the right medicinal remedies. It is one of the few projects I truly enjoy."

Gigi smiled at the caring note in the Queen's voice. "Pardon, my Queen, but if you do this every few weeks, do you take another translator with you?"

"Yes, but she came down with a fever and I was sent looking for you."

Gigi felt herself glow at the remark. "I am happy to assist."

The carriage bumped along the cobblestone street, jostling the occupants. As they moved further from the palace and closer to the docks, the tang of the ocean grew stronger. Seagulls swooped overhead, calling out to each other. The carriage slowed and the clopping of hooves echoed off the brick buildings.

The carriage stopped and the door was pulled open. The Queen exited as did her lady-in-waiting, carrying the basket. Gigi ventured out last, stepping into a dirt coated street. Though the sea lay only a few blocks away, the stench of grime was heavy in the air. The Queen didn't seem bothered by it.

"Lilith, remind me to talk to the King again," Ashlyn said. "We need to improve these streets. They can not get better if they are not living well."

Lilith nodded. Following behind, Gigi watched as the Queen moved towards a doorway, one hand holding a piece of her dress. At the door, she looked back at Gigi. Sensing the silent command, Gigi moved to stand beside the Queen. She smoothed down her dress, adjusting her thoughts to Talvish. Ashlyn laid a hand on her arm.

"Thank you," she said. "Do not be nervous. They know why I am here."

Gigi nodded and the Queen knocked.

***********

Over the next four hours, Gigi trailed behind the Queen as she moved from house to house. Besides giving out remedies for the illness, the Queen listened to their struggles, her face composed into a look of concern. Her responses were encouraging, her smile genuine. Each house they left, the families followed them to the door voicing their many thanks. The Queen always received these with a wave.

The sun had shifted to late afternoon when they exited a run-down house on the edge of the docks. The family was profusely offering up their gratitude and Gigi was quickly translating. Though Talvish was her second language, her brain still felt sluggish after hours of concentration, trying to remember what the Queen had said while listening to the rushed responses of the women.

She let out a sigh and breathed in the fresh air. The main room in the house had been cramped and dim. Her thoughts wandered back to her own home. Though small, the tent had never felt claustrophobic. With the sound of the world buzzing about it, it had felt as large as a palace.

Gigi was given a short respite as the Queen talked to Lilith. From open windows, Gigi could hear the bustle of normal life. Words fell off window ledges and into the street. Babies cries were answered by the cooing of mothers' voices. The shriek of children's laughter seemed a constant sound through it all. Gigi smiled as she absorbed it all, turning in a slow circle as if trying to see which house held which sound.

An explosion of male voices snatched her attention. Down the street, a tavern door swung open. Beside the doorway were three soldiers. Gigi watched with furrowed brows, trying to define the purpose of the soldiers' appearance. From the opening, a group of men walked out, all wearing jovial smiles, that cut into their thick beards. Among them was someone that made Gigi pause in wonderment.

Thayer was talking to the largest of the men, smiling. A smile she had never seen before. It was untroubled, unrestrained. Free. Thayer said something and the man let out a barking laugh, throwing his head back. The men around him joined in.

"One more drink, your Highness," the large man bellowed.

"I must go, but I will leave you to enjoy it for me," Thayer said.

The man held out his bear-sized hand and Thayer shook it. The man bowed his head and the other men followed his lead. Thayer ducked his chin in acknowledgment. Motioning to the soldiers by the door, he turned from the sailors. The parade of men returned to the tavern. Gigi found herself immobile, trying to process what she had just seen.

As Thayer walked in her direction she was struck by how he looked. Though there was no major change in his appearance the rigidness he usually wore was gone. He looked relaxed. Of his clothes, the only difference Gigi could see was the top button of his shirt was undone. Thayer spotted her and his eyebrows rose.

The Queen finished her conversation with Lilith and walked to Gigi at the same time Thayer made it to her. Ashlyn smiled at the sight of her son.

"Hello, darling," she said, "drinking with sailors again?"

Thayer straightened and buttoned his top button. "Settling complaints, mother."

Her look softened into a teasing look. "Of course."

Thayer shifted his shoulders. "What brings you here?"

"Talvish remedies." Thayer's eyes moved to Gigi and the Queen gestured to her. "Lady Genevieve was being kind enough to act as my translator."

Thayer nodded to her. "Thank you for assisting my mother. Talvish still eludes her." A flicker of a smile crossed his lips.

The suddenness of it startled Gigi. The Queen waved a flippant hand.

"I am working on it," she said, giving him a reproachful look. He ducked his head but didn't look at all penitent. "Thayer, since you are here you can escort Genevieve back to the palace." She turned to Gigi. "Thank you, dear, we are done for today and I have a dress shop I must visit. I am sure you wish to rest."

Gigi smiled gratefully.

"I am afraid I rode here today," Thayer said, he looked at Gigi. "Though if you do not mind walking, I will gladly escort you."

"I do not mind," she said.

"It is settled then," the Queen said. "I must be off, I have an appointment."

Gigi curtsied to the Queen and Thayer bowed. She returned to her carriage and climbed in. Gigi shifted to Thayer. He, in turn, gestured for his guards to gather the horses, then waved his hand forward.

"If you wish it I can have one of my guards ride ahead and return with a carriage," he asked, as they walked.

"I am Eldin, your Highness, I have grown up walking from city to city."

"We walk then."

A guard took up a post before them, as the remaining two guards, with the horses, fell into step behind them. The beat of the hooves filled the silence. The hum of life slipped from behind closed doors and through windows. Men with dense muscles and weather-beaten faces passed them, bowing their head in respect to Thayer.

Thayer walked with his hands held at his back, his expression calm. Gigi stole glances at him, trying to identify the change that was almost imperceptible.

"Do you wish to ask me something, Lady?" he asked.

Gigi blushed at being caught.

"I have never seen this side of you, your Highness."

"That is because it is a side you are not meant to see," he said.

She looked at him, frowning in confusion. He understood her look.

"To the nobility, I need to be noble. A leader," he said. "To my subjects, I need to be a leader, but trustworthy. A friend."

"So you have done this before?"

He nodded. "Many times. I am not yet the King, I have the freedom to visit and hear of their struggles as my father can not."

Gigi paused and then took a breath, her thoughts falling into place. "I must apologize for my accusation, your Highness. You do know the troubles of your people, I was wrong to say otherwise."

Thayer gave a nod of acceptance. They fell silent. As they moved from the docks into the heart of the city, the world changed to a bustling scene that shifted and morphed around them. Simply dressed men and women streamed in and out of shops, their thoughts always taking them to the next destination. Wagons loaded down with vibrant colored produce rattled passed, the large wooden wheels bouncing along.

The guard in front cleared a path before them and they moved through the mass like a ship through water. Girls passed by with baskets bursting with colorful strips of cloth. A pair of tall men walked through the street with a long canvas banner on their shoulders. Silvery letters painted on it announced the Full Moon Festival. Women leaned out windows hanging embroidered signs with white moons on them. The city buzzed with anticipation of the coming celebration.

Gigi soaked in the feeling of the excited crowd and found she enjoyed the city more from this level. It felt natural. The buildings rose above her and the faces of citizens were like a storm of features around her. Thayer watched her from the corner of his eye.

"Are you doing better, Lady?" he asked.

The question caught Gigi off guard. "Better, your Highness?"

"Yesterday you appeared to be..." He paused as if searching for the right word. "Unsettled."

Gigi felt a tug of gratitude towards him for his concern. "I am, your Highness. Thank you."

Thayer nodded but looked as if he wanted to say more but propriety kept the question trapped. The edge of Gigi's mouth lifted.

"Do you wish to ask me something, your Highness?"

The echo of his words made Thayer's mouth twitch with amusement.

"If it not too impertinent of me to ask, what was troubling you?"

Gigi hesitated before speaking. Thayer looked back to the street as if to give her space.

"Something I overheard brought to light my grandparents' intention of having me inherit their Estate."

Thayer furrowed his eyebrows. "I was not aware that that was something unknown."

Gigi let out a soft chuckle. "It appears I was the only one who did not know." She glanced at him. "Despite what you believed on our meeting in the gardens, I had no plans to take anything from my grandparents besides what they had already freely given."

Thayer winced at the memory. A breath of a pause passed between them.

"Lady," he said, his tone low, "I must apologize for the manner in which I treated you on that occasion."

Gigi looked up at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. He met her gaze, then his eyes darted to something. The pounding of hooves and the clatter of wheels was on the only warning Gigi had before Thayer pulled her from the path of four horses. His arms secured her to him. She turned her head towards him, trying to not breathe in the cloud of dirt that was kicked up.

The carriage sped passed and Thayer looked down at her, loosening his hold. He kept one hand on her arm to make sure she was steady.

"Thank you," she said.

He nodded and pulled his hand away. They continued on, Gigi suddenly more aware of his presence beside her and the odd mixture of soap and ale that lingered in her nose.

"Pardon me if this question is too intrusive, Lady," Thayer said, "but if you were not here to inherit their Estate for what reason were you?"

"To know my grandparents," she said. "When I came with my mother for Lord Alton's Burning they invited me to remain with them for the summer. It was to allow them time to know me and for me to experience life at Court. At the end, I will be given the option of staying with them or returning to my family."

Thayer nodded, taking everything in. The shouts of two shopkeepers filled the air. The smell of pipe smoke fell over them in a cloud as they passed an open doorway. Beneath the open sky and among people that didn't scrutinize her, Gigi found herself more relaxed than she had been in weeks. A content smile slipped onto her lips.

"Do you know what you will decide?" Thayer asked.

Her smile melted.

"I truly do not know, your Highness. The Court has been more wonderful and complicated than I imagined it would be."

"I can understand that." His brown eyes flickered to her and then away. "If you decide not to stay I will admit the loss will be on the Court's side."

"That is kind of you to say, but I do not believe anyone will miss my presence."

"On the contrary, I will find your absence to be a loss."

She looked at him and couldn't help laughing. "I find that hard to believe after the interactions we have shared. I acted less than ladylike for most of them."

She looked at him and saw a hint of the untroubled smile.

"All the same," Thayer replied, "what I say holds true."

**********************************************************************

Tally ho!

Thayer with his top button unbuttoned! Is there anything more attractive? 🥰

What did we think of the interaction? Is this ship pulling ahead?

(blue_moon0193 can you please stop screaming cause I'm going deaf.🙉)

In one word or five emojis describe Thayer and Gigi's relationship, go!

You should know that it's official, I'm letting the queen adopt me. I never actually expected her to be as amusing and wonderful as she turned out to be. Gosh everyone in this book shocked me!

Here's a question for you that I truly know you'll have to slave over the answer. You might even have to spend hours, maybe even days contemplating the answer to it. But I have faith you will find the answer so here is the question: do you want a double update next week?

I know take you time, really ponder this and when you have settled on the right answer, let me know. 😁

Till then vote, comment, follow but hurry good reader, decisions must be made and swiftly!

What do you think of him for Raif? I like the look of him. I mean he's hot so of course I'm going to like the look of him. What do you think?

(Ummm...so yeah...that 👆 one was kinda blurry so you know I had to add a second 🙃)